Clarion: Into Week 6

[ellenkushner]

Went to ComicCon this morning, signed lots of books at the Bantam booth, and met the lovely annimee (and possibly other LJ users who were too shy to 'fess up). Had a wonderful lunch with Sara Ryan, and got her permission to quote her LiveJournal entry about sequels - but now I've decided to Link to it instead. I'd love to see what you think. Sara was one of my Clarion students the first time I ever taught. She was the Baby of the class, and now look at her! I can't wait to see what our current class does in the coming years.

Tomorrow morning we are workshopping 3 new stories (which means, Gentle Reader, listening to 18 people go around the table critiquing each story, and then coming up with something wise to say ourselves about each one that somehow teaches everyone a Valuable Lesson), and in the afternoon Delia & I have individual conferences with 3 students, centered around a story each of them would like to revise. That makes 6 stories to read and comment on. I thought we'd have the weekend to achieve this, but between ComicCon and a number of other workshop-related things, I was So Wrong. Then 3 more workshop stories on Tuesday morning (for which we must find time to read on Monday), plus a mere 2 individual conferences, ditto. Thursday is our last full day. There'll be tears, there'll be laughter. And more good stories.

Comments

[calimac.livejournal.com]

Sara writes:

We latch onto something in a book — a character, a setting, the rhythm of the writer’s prose, the way magic works or doesn’t. And then we want to experience it again. And again.

I understand that urge. (And I often re-order the same meals at restaurants, as she does.) But I satisfy it by re-reading the original book. And if I really like a book, I re-read it again, and again. Just like she says.

A sequel - a sequel that caters to that urge of reproduction, NOT a sequel that tries to do something new - doesn't work for me. Reproduction without re-reading is dull. A sequel needs to say something the original book didn't, but it also needs to avoid undercutting the original book. For this reason, the best sequels are often stories taking the characters to entirely different stages in their lives, or about new characters in the same settings. I think you know that.

[ellen-denham.livejournal.com]

Your experience sounds strangely familiar, because I've just returned from "The Never-Ending Odyssey," a week-long workshop for Odyssey grads. Because this was a short workshop we did our crits ahead of time, which was great for a change! I got some great feedback and am psyched to revise my novelette.

I agree with Sara about sequels. I may write lots of different things involving dryads in the way I've set up their society and mythology, but not the same characters or even settings. A couple of people thought my novelette could be expanded into a novel, with future adventures for the hero. My feeling is, he goes off to be a hermit in the woods and there isn't much exciting to write about there.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and Delia at Mythcon. Just printed out the schedule today!

[aidara.livejournal.com]

Haha, actually, my sister (moonfoot_gamgee) and I were there (with copies of "Swordspoint," if that distinguishes us at all from the huge crowd), but I didn't even think to mention that we were on LJ. :) Thank you so much again, it was very nice to meet you!

[annnimeee.livejournal.com]

It was an honor and a pleasure to meet you and Delia! Thank you both for being so kind! Was worried that my excitement would make you wary.

Please enjoy the rest of your stay in San Diego. You must visit the beach in the day, at least once! :)